Retracting rear caliper piston

[Howard-]

So once I got the right anti-rattle clips I put the pads in and tried to put the caliper back on.. Except it won't fit

It's wound back until the hex screw wouldn't turn any more (and it wound back to this point quite freely)... There's literally a mm or so of required space! Has this happened to anyone else? Is there a way of pushing it back further? Should I try a little more force on the screw? Please say the caliper isn't knackered..

They're EBC Yellowstuff pads btw, I'm doing the 1.8 conversion as I go so 1.8 rear caliper carriers and disks

[BonzoGuinness]

Have you popped the hex screw out to see if it's damaged? They're made of butter. It should just fall out if you tip the caliper (or bash the other side with a soft mallet, if it's on the car ). If the splines are missing off the end, you can either use the one from the other side of the car, or cut it down to size until the splines go all the way to the end again.

Are you doing the conversion with new parts? If not and the hex screw is fine, it could just be some corrosion on the piston - I had this problem and after unwinding it 'fully', some gentle pressure with a thumb/clamp was enough to free it.

If it's neither of these, then it'll be the adjuster, and it gets expensive!

[bluetone]

I have used a G-clamp in the past to help push the piston back in to the caliper.

HTH.

[Howard-]

I will try a bit of gentle persuasion on the piston with the hex screw unwound fully then, thanks